Author: NewHeyah

I read all the comics and watch too many horror movies.

Spec Deck: December 2019

Welcome to the second installment of Secret Society Comics’ Spec Deck! My motto here is that in the speculative comic market when you are not a month early, you are already a month late.

Let’s get to business and cover the comics you should you be keeping an eye out for next month! It’s an IDW heavy month, but that’s just because I dig their books.

Wellington #1

I don’t feel like it is too much of a stretch to say that most folks who listen to podcasts have heard of Lore.  It is an extremely popular podcast about folk legends and tales of creatures, ghouls, and real life human atrocities.  Aaron Mahnke is a master storyteller, which makes me feel as if this comic book has an extremely high level of potential. I don’t think it is unreasonable to compare this to a scriptwriter taking their skills to the comic world.  

This book is either going to sell out or the print run will be more than enough to satiate the hardcore fans of the podcast leaving stacks of copies left behind.  It is going to be one extreme or the other, all depending on print run.  If the fans of the show catch on to this and the first print sells out, then watch for it to spike to $12-15 in no time at all and stay there for a considerable amount of time.  

If it ends up sitting on the shelves gathering dust for a few months, I still suggest picking it up.  This is one of those books that is going to have a cult following for years to come and there will come a time 10 or 15 years from now that it is not so easy to obtain because most of the original folks who bought it, did so because they want to own it, not because they can’t wait to sell it. 

I Can Sell You a Body #1

The cover is incredible, the concept sounds unique, and IDW has been killing it recently with titles like Road of Bones and Canto. In major markets like NYC or Austin, there might be stacks on the shelf, but in smaller markets, this will be gone immediately. Copies on eBay will sell for between $8-12. 

Though this isn’t one of those comics I think will become a TV show or movie, it will have real-honest-to-god reader buzz. That will compel folks to want to get in on the story and not just the speculation. 

The Kill Lock #1

I want to read this freaking comic right now. I would also love to see this as a movie, and I am certain it would become a cult classic.  I feel the same way about this book as I do about I Can Sell You a Body. The two of them will bump up within the first 2-4 weeks and go for slightly over cover price.

I see long term potential here. If this were to be translated to another media, I can see this being something like Men in Black or 30 Days of Night.  Those are huge movies that were based on comic books, and while there aren’t a ton of us hunting for the original Men in Black comics any more, I can promise you that you’re not going to find them for cheap if you want them.  

20XX #1

Beware of any book that starts with a description like:

“This [insert genre] for [single out a type of reader] imagines a [place any assortment of dystopia futures] of [use some catch phrase the kids dig].”

These books are made by committee, and maybe not literally, but the folks who came up with the pitch might as well have used an ad libs book and just released a dozen other similar stories to see which one takes off.  

I think any comic is worth reading and that this certainly might be someones first and/or favorite comic ever and for that I give it praise even before it is released.  

But, I just re-read the description again and it sounds like a bad joke.  Stay away for speculation but if you pick it up for story let me know what you think — I could be wrong. 

Seance Room #1

I really like the feel of this book and the author has another title called Beyond The Demon The Sea that sold out a couple weeks ago.

Source Point Press has been on a pretty solid streak recently with Samurai Grandpa, Love She Offered and Dead End Kids.  

This doesn’t quite have that immediate success feel to it though. The question is, does it have long term potential?

I don’t know, the story sounds pretty freaking cool and any comic at any time could be optioned.  My best guess is this comic will be available for cover price for a real long time.

However if the day ever arrives where a studio comes knocking, the price will skyrocket.  The print run of these super indie labels has to be miniscule.

 

Spec Deck: November 2019

Welcome to the first installment of Secret Society Comics’ Spec Deck! My name is Frank, and I will be your local resident comic book speculator. I’ve been collecting for 25 years and seen quite a few ups and downs in the secondary market. I love the story more than anything, but who doesn’t also like to know something they own holds value?

So with that in mind, take a gander at the official first five selections of Spec Deck.

Breathers #1

I really like simple but effective art, like what I am seeing here.  I always feel like books with this style are bound to become cult classics.

I really dislike almost all comics that claim to take place in a dystopian world though.  We get it, pretty much all possibilities at this point are bleak!

What gives this title a bit of an edge, though, is the extremely unique character dynamics that seem to be in play.  Reading this description you truly get a feel for what you are about to be dropped in to.

I have a really good feeling about this comic.  It will sell out and it will command between $20-$30 on the secondary market.  

Folklords #1

Full disclosure, I went all in on Once & Future and Something is Killing the Children.  (Like almost unhealthy amounts of effort were put in to getting every single last printing of the first issues.)  

So you may be surprised to hear that I don’t see Folklords being the same kind of surprise hit as ‘Once’ and ‘Children’ were.  Main reason being that we are all prepared for it this time.

BOOM! Studios: your local comic shop and every collector out there knows what just happened with ‘Once’ and ‘Children’ and no one wants to be caught with their pants down again.  

I will be picking this book up for sure; it sounds like a fun read.  But don’t look for it to spike in price at all any time soon.  Additionally, even if it were to be optioned some day, there are going to be a lot of speculators picking it up to re-sell.  If there ever is option news, the market will be saturated.  

This will be an easy book to obtain for years to come.  

Crone #1

This book is the hardest for me to gauge.  I want to say it could be a breakout hit, but at the same time… that is how I felt about Unearth and Sea of Stars at one point. 

Some books just look too good to be true.  Almost designed to stimulate certain aspects of the brain at first glance.  This one feels like a book that is going to be overordered.  

I also don’t love any catchline that is “equal parts this and that.” I think this is a solid pass for me and honestly it looks like future dollar bin fodder.  

I cannot stress enough though: if you think the story sounds cool, BUY IT!  That is what comics are for.  Speculating is just a fun side note.  

Crow Hark the Herald #1

I love Tim Seeley, I love Hack/Slash, I LOVE The Crow and loved Crow Hack/Slash. 

This book will not sell out and it will not go for any more than cover price any time soon.  However, I cannot imagine a future world where The Crow isn’t resurrected as a successful franchise.  There will be a day when The Crow merch, collectibles, and comics are a commodity.  

I’m getting this book because I literally love everything about it.  I don’t expect for it to ever be worth a fortune, but I do expect for it to hold its value or increase slightly in value over time, which is much more than most comics can say.

Rising Sun #1

Last but certainly not least is what could easily be the leader of the pack.  You always have to watch out for slick Japanese inspired art, it sells copies without a doubt. 

The description is short and sweet.  I’m left wanting to know more.  Sometimes you want to read an entire review of a comic or movie before jumping in to it.  However with something like a kung fu flick or a horror movie, you just want the very basic plot without anyone else’s interpretation of it.  

“Many monsters who are ravaging the country!”  

You don’t need to over explain something like that, I am sold and I think alot of other people will be as well. This is a book to watch out for, I can definitely see it selling out and going for anywhere between $6-$12 on the secondary market.  

Obviously long term potential is all about staying power.